HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah -- Editor’s note: As we celebrate Women’s History Month at Hill Air Force Base, we are featuring some of Team Hill’s female military and federal service employees through a series of spotlight articles.
Meet Staff Sgt. Sonya Dormeier, 75th HealthCare Operations Squadron’s NCO in charge of the clinic pharmacy.
As a young girl growing up in Goodyear, Arizona, Dormeier became enamored by war films such as Black Hawk Down, Pearl Harbor and Saving Private Ryan. It inspired her to want to join the military.
“In those movies I saw depictions of people who served a higher purpose than themselves and who protected others,” she said. “It was inspiring, as my mission has always been to protect my family.”
She said working in the healthcare field and being able to help others has given her an immense amount of satisfaction, pride, and happiness.
“There’s nothing more gratifying than knowing someone trusts you enough to seek help from you or to ask for life advice, mentorship on how to progress in their career, how to self-improve, and how to navigate extremely tough situations,” she said.
Dormeier said Women’s History Month is a great opportunity to recognize and celebrate women’s contributions to the world.
“Women are some of the most resilient people out there,” she said. “Take time to get to know them and you’ll quickly realize how much women can handle on their plate and still be hungry for more.”
One of her female heroes is Erin Gruwell, a teacher whose work was depicted in the movie “Freedom Writers.”
“She believed in her students when no one else did,” Dormeier said. “She made a significant impact, and it goes to show that anyone can make a difference and can set a chain reaction for positive change even when the odds stacked against them.”
Outside of work, Dormeier enjoys snowboarding, something she didn’t get to do much of in Arizona. She also enjoys anything fitness related, such as weightlifting, hiking and running, and loves going on adventures with friends and family.